Q&A QUICKIE #12: Making your eyes ‘pop’

Following on from Sunday’s post on finding an outfit for barbecues, I received another message; this time from Jamie S. asking the following question about finding clothes that make your eyes sparkle:

“Hi Jonathan.

Love the site, I’m a regular reader. Found the last post you did really interesting, but there was one bit I was hoping for a hand with. You say you should wear a shirt that brings out the colour in your eyes. I’m finding this difficult… I’ve got regular g[r]een eyes, what should I do?

Regards,
Jamie S.”

Thanks for the message Jamie. Needless to say, it’s not quite as difficult as you might imagine. The key to success is taking a close look at our standby personal shade consultant, ‘the colour wheel’.

We know complementary colours sit next to each other on the wheel; ergo, if you have blue eyes and want something that complements, a green or violet shirt would be ideal.

Likewise, we know colours sitting opposite each other on the wheel are in stark contrast; in other words, these are the colours that we’re looking for to get that visual ‘pop’. Therefore, in the case of your mid-green eyes, a strong red would be ideal.

However, before you go reaching for your finest crimson v-neck sweater, remember the impact different shades have on your skin tone. If you find a strong tone is too much, find a shade that’s subtler. Below you’ll find a list of common eye colours and their corresponding shade on the wheel for when you want something to ‘pop’:

About The Author

Johnathan Bell is the founder, owner and main author of Guy Style Guide, a website dedicated to everyday male fashion, style and grooming. The primary mission? To guide clueless men through the tricky mindfield that is the growing world of male couture. Find him on Google+, Twitter and Tumblr.

You’re absolutely correct – I was referring to complimentary colours in terms of fashion matching; specifically, the chosen colours would ‘compliment’ an outfit. Opposite colours would be a contrast, ergo ones that would ‘pop’ the most.